My pans and pots

For those missing sunshine  like me here it is a key lime pie.  It’s a light, fruity cream pie that remind me of summer. You're probably wondering why? Lime and mint are the best buddies in ice teas. Ice teas are my favorite drinks during the summer so key lime pie is a dash of sunshine in these snowy days.

This great  recipe is taken from the book Best ever pastry cookbooks by Catherine Adams.

Serves 10

Ingredients:

4 eggs ,separated

400 grams sweetened condensed milk

grated rind and juice of 3 lime

30 grams superfine caster sugar

For pastry:

225 grams all purpose flour

115 grams chilled butter

30 grams superfine caster sugar

2 egg yolks

pinch of salt

30 ml cold water

For decoration

1 lime thinly sliced

300 ml double cream

and fresh mint springs

making pastry: 

I put all pastry ingredients in my food processor  and  pulse several times until the mixture form a soft dough. Shape a dough into a flattened ball, wrap in cling film and refrigerate for about 30 minutes . Roll out the pastry thinly on a baking parchment and press into flan tin.Prick the base of the pastry case all over with fork, trim of the excess pastry from around the edge of the pastry case using a sharp knife line the pastry case with baking parchment and fill with baking beans.  Chill for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and bake the pastry case for 10 minutes. Remove the parchment and beans and bake for 10 minutes more.

Meanwhile, beat the egg yolks in a large bowl until light and creamy, then beat in the condensed milk along with lime juice and rind. Continue to beat until the mixture is thick.

Whisk the egg whites in a grease free bowl until stiff peaks form. Whisk in the sugar ,then fold into the lime mixture.

Reduce the oven temperature to 160° .Pour the lime filling into the pastry case. Bake for a 30 minutes or until the pie has set and is starting to brown.

Cool then chill.

Just before serving whip the cream for the topping and spoon it around the edge of the pie.

Cut the lime slices and arrange. Decorate with fresh mint.

Enjoy!